If you've ever taken a fall trip to the mountains, or just scrolled past someone else's photos, and wished your own yard had a little of that color, you're not alone. North Florida won't look like Vermont, but the right plants can give you real fall color, from leaves to plumes, usually in late fall into early winter. Here are five worth considering.
5 plants for North Florida fall color
- Florida Flame Maple. A red maple selected for our climate, with red-orange fall leaves. It's a shade tree, so give it room.
- Crape Myrtle ('Natchez'). You may know it for summer blooms, but the white-flowering 'Natchez' also turns red-orange in fall, and its peeling bark adds winter interest. 'Tuscarora,' a coral-pink variety, is another great choice. Both grow into tall trees.
- Oakleaf Hydrangea. Big white blooms in spring, then deep burgundy and red leaves in fall. It does best with some afternoon shade.
- Blueberry. A shrub with red to burgundy fall leaves, plus fruit you can eat. It likes acidic soil, so check your site first.
- Muhly Grass. You've seen it all over town in fall, with clouds of pink plumes that glow in the late-day sun. It's a tough, low-water plant for sunny spots. Cut it back in late winter.
Not sure what fits your yard? Ask us. We can help you match the plant to your sun, soil, and space.
Tip: Ease up on mowing if you DIY
If you mow your own lawn, now is the time to back off. Mow less often and raise your mower height one notch. This reduces stress on the grass and lets your lawn finish filling in before winter. Don't remove more than about a third of the blade at once.
It's the same reason we and most landscape services move to every-other-week visits this time of year. Turf and shrub growth has slowed, so there's less to cut. Our teams will service your lawn every other week from October 15 through March 15, which is where our 42 visits a year come from. Fewer passes also means less equipment on the lawn and better recovery.
Tip: Adjust your irrigation, but don't shut it off
You may have heard that it's time to cut back or turn off your sprinklers for winter. Cut back, yes. Turn off, no. This fall has been on the dry side, helped along by a quiet tropical season, which is a mixed blessing. Cooler weather means your lawn needs less water than in summer, but shutting your irrigation off now starves the lawn of moisture when it still needs it.
There's good news ahead. NOAA's winter outlook points to a wetter-than-normal winter for our part of the country, tied to a strong El Niño, which would help both lawns and our aquifers. Until the rain shows up, keep your system running on a reduced schedule. Our irrigation team can check your settings.
Tip: Refresh your mulch or pine straw before winter
A fresh layer of mulch or pine straw helps your beds hold moisture and keeps soil temperatures steadier through the cooler months. It also makes the whole property look cared for going into the holidays. When you spread it, keep it pulled back from tree trunks and the base of shrubs instead of piling it against the stems. If you'd rather not do it yourself, our team can spread mulch or pine straw for you.
Tip: Get your yard ready for holiday guests
Thanksgiving is a few weeks away, and the yard is the first thing guests see. Before they arrive, edge the walks and beds, tidy up your planting areas, and refresh the spots people notice most, like the front entry and driveway. A little attention now means you can enjoy the holiday instead of scrambling the day before. Our landscape maintenance team keeps edges clean and beds tidy all season, so the details are already handled.
Christmas and Holiday Lighting, custom-cut for your home
Our Christmas and Holiday Lighting service designs and installs lighting that fits your home, using commercial-grade lights cut to size. That can include rooflines, wrapped columns, wreaths, garlands with bows, and trees. We handle design, installation, and takedown, so you skip the ladders and tangled wires. Get a holiday lighting quote.